NBA returning with 22 teams; will play from July 31 to Oct. 12 in Orlando

The NBA has a plan to resume the 2019-20 season with 22 teams returning to play in Orlando from July 31 to Oct. 12.

The NBA has a plan to resume the 2019-20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pending votes from NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association, 22 teams will partake in an eight-game conclusion to the regular season. There will then be a play-in tournament for the final seeds to a 16-team playoff at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla., a source told USA TODAY Sports.

A vote is expected to be held Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET during the NBA’s Board of Governors video conference. A three-fourths approval is required from the owners before the plan is put in front of the NBAPA for ratification.

NBA return format

  • Teams will begin training at their own facilities in July and are expected to be able to report to the ESPN complex later in the month for a 2 1/2-week training camp before games begin July 31.
  • Each of the 22 teams will play an eight-game finish to the regular season.
  • A play-in tournament will be held for the eighth seed in both conferences unless the ninth-place team is not within four games of the eighth-place team in that conference.
  • Several games per day will be played on multiple courts on several Disney properties through the end of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.
  • The last possible date for a Game 7 of the NBA Finals is Oct. 12, according to sources.
  • Regular, if not daily, testing for COVID-19 will be conducted.

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Eastern Conference teams

  1. Milwaukee Bucks: 53-12
  2. Toronto Raptors: 46-18, 6.5 games back
  3. Boston Celtics: 43-21, 9.5 games back
  4. Miami Heat: 41-24, 12 games back
  5. Indiana Pacers: 39-26, 14 games back
  6. Philadelphia 76ers: 39-26, 14 games back – trail Pacers in tiebreaker based on head-to-head record (1-2)
  7. Brooklyn Nets: 30-34, 22.5 games back
  8. Orlando Magic: 30-35, 23 games back
  9. Washington Wizards: 24-40, 28.5 games back

Western Conference teams

  1. Los Angeles Lakers: 49-14
  2. Los Angeles Clippers: 44-20, 5.5 games back
  3. Denver Nuggets: 43-22, 7 games back
  4. Utah Jazz: 41-23, 8.5 games back
  5. Oklahoma City Thunder: 40-24, 9.5 games back
  6. Houston Rockets: 40-24, 9.5 games back – trail Thunder in tiebreaker based on head-to-head record (1-2)
  7. Dallas Mavericks: 40-27, 11 games back
  8. Memphis Grizzlies: 32-33, 18 games back
  9. Portland Trail Blazers: 29-37, 21.5 games back
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: 28-36, 21.5 games back
  11. Sacramento Kings: 28-36, 21.5 games back – trail Pelicans in tiebreaker based on head-to-head record (0-1)
  12. San Antonio Spurs: 27-36, 22 games back
  13. Phoenix Suns 26-39, 24 games back

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